Five Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players named to FIFA U-17 World Cup roster

October 3, 201310:34 AM PDT

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that five Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players have been named to its roster for for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 21-player roster will represent Canada from October 17 to November 8 in the 14th edition of the biennial competition.

Included are goalkeeper Marco Carducci and midfielders Marco Bustos, Matthew Chow, Kianz Froese, and Jordan Haynes. The five players from Whitecaps FC are the most from any single club on the roster. Chow is an alumni of the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League with Fusion FC, while both he and Whitecaps FC Residency alum Alex Comsia are both former members of the BC Soccer Provincial Development Program and the National Training Centre.

Canada is one of 24 teams competing in the final competition, having qualified as one of four CONCACAF nations back in April. In the group phase of the tournament, Canada will face Austria on October 19, Iran on October 22, and Argentina on October 25. Canada’s three group matches will all be played in Dubai.

“I have belief in our team,” said Canadian U-17 coach Sean Fleming. “The commitment and dedication from the boys has been fantastic.”

Ahead of the competition, Canada will train in UAE from October 5 to 14. Along with the 21-player squad, Canada will carry three alternates in the pre-competition camp in case of injuries.

Of note, 16 of the 21 players have benefitted from more than 75 days in Canadian youth program activity. All 21 players are attached to clubs, be it in Canada, USA, England or France.

The four established Canadian professional clubs – Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Edmonton, Toronto FC and Impact Montréal – are all represented in the Canadian squad.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup is an important step in player development en route to Canada’s national “A” squad. This marks Canada’s second consecutive appearance at the tournament.